Three months more went by; then Wilfrid at length asked plainly whether Emily had sent any news of herself, or whether the suspicions had proved grounded.

The reply was this:-- 'As I knew perfectly well, as soon as I came to my senses, Emily had told us the truth.

I heard from her for the first time nearly half a year ago, but, as she appealed to my honour not to disclose the place of her abode, I thought it needless to speak to you on the subject before you yourself seemed desirous of hearing.

She is teaching in a school, and I am convinced that the story we together concocted was based on some utter mistake; I don't think she was ever related to that man in the way we thought.

But it is more than probable that there was some mystery about her father's death, in which Mr.D.was concerned.